Time for Heroes at IFAT Munich: GEA presents decanter and new granulator for economical operation of wastewater treatment plants

For all types of disposals, i.e. incineration, landfilling and agricultural utilization, the optimum economic dewatering of sewage sludge is a key technology. Central cost drivers in sludge thickening and dewatering are dry substance content, energy consumption, maintenance, and polymer consumption.

The basic idea is that less sewage sludge to be disposed of saves transport costs, reduces energy consumption for drying and incineration, and reduces CO₂ emissions. Since the machines are in almost continuous use in many applications, the energy requirement in relation to throughput is an important cost factor.

Concrete figures demonstrate the opportunities for cost and energy savings. For example, in the disposal of sewage sludge, disposal costs account for around 75 percent of total costs. 20 percent are costs for operating materials such as polymer. Energy costs account for around five percent.